Is the routine pelvic examination needed with the advent of urine-based screening for sexually transmitted diseases?

OBJECTIVE: To determine the most cost-effective method of screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea to prevent pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in asymptomatic sexually active adolescent females. DESIGN: Cost-effectiveness decision analysis comparing pelvic examination with cervical screening (the current national standard) with a model of urine screening with ligase chain reaction testing for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. METHODS: Four strategies using decision analysis were compared for a potential cohort of 100000 asymptomatic sexually active young women: (1) pelvic examination screening in 100%; (2) urine screening in 100%; (3) actual predicted pelvic examination screening in 70%; and (4) actual predicted urine screening in 90%. Assumptions and costs were generated from published sources. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cases of PID prevented per year and cost to prevent a case of PID. RESULTS: A total of 1750 cases of PID would be predicted to occur per year with no screening. Strategy 1 would prevent the most cases of PID (1283) at a mean cost of $10230. Strategy 2 would prevent 1215 cases of PID at a mean cost of $5093. The marginal cost to prevent an additional case of PID by strategy 1 is $101454. Strategy 3 would prevent 898 cases of PID and 1093 cases of PID would be prevented with urine screening in strategy 4. CONCLUSION: Urine-based ligase chain reaction screening is the most cost-effective strategy to detect chlamydial and gonococcal genital infection in asymptomatic sexually active adolescent females and, owing to ease of implementation, the most likely to prevent the greatest number of cases of PID.

Sexually transmitted diseases in a health maintenance organization teen clinic: associations of race, partner's age, and marijuana use.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of sociodemographic risk markers and behavioral risk factors associated with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in sexually experienced youth seeking care at an urban, general health maintenance organization teen clinic. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. PARTICIPANTS: A consecutive, racially and ethnically diverse sample of 285 sexually experienced youth who were preponderantly female (58.6%) and who were aged 16.7 years on average. METHODS: All participants completed a self-report questionnaire and were screened for Chlamydia trachomatis using the ligase chain reaction technique and for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and other STDs using conventional methods. RESULTS: Many of these youth were at high risk for STDs, having a self-reported history of sex with multiple partners (49.1%), sex with a new partner (42.5%), inconsistent use of condoms (71.9%), and frequent substance use (24.5% used marijuana 1-2 times per week or more). Sexually transmitted disease screening revealed that 11.6% of the participants had 1 or more STDs. A logistic regression analysis to determine the best model for predicting STDs indicated that youth who are African American (odds ratio, 3.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.52-7.35), had sexual partners who were 2 or more years older (odds ratio, 2.63, 95% confidence interval, 1.22-5.67), and used marijuana 1 to 2 times or more per week (odds ratio, 2.27; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-5.13) were more likely to have STDs at screening. CONCLUSIONS: A brief sociodemographic and behavioral risk assessment that includes these factors may be useful for clinicians in deciding when to screen for STDs in sexually active youth seeking care for reasons not related to reproductive health.

Self-concept in the diethylstilbestrol daughter.

To evaluate the possible psychologic impact of diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero exposure on young women, the authors studied self-concept as a multifaceted construct in 25 known DES in utero exposed young women compared with 25 age-matched controls. Psychologic inventories used included Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale, Adjective Check List, Who Am I Test, Wyeth 's Self-Satisfaction Ladder, and the Draw Yourself Test, as well as semi-structured personal interview. Diethylstilbestrol subjects differed significantly from controls on the adjective check list subscales of Defensiveness, Nurturance, and Affiliation (P less than or equal to .05), as well as in the Draw Yourself Test, by omitting or obscuring body parts, especially sexual characteristics (P = .001). Subjects with known physical sequelae associated with DES were less satisfied with their lives (P = .05). On other measures of self-concept, no peer differences between DES subjects and controls were found. In fact, a trend for DES subjects to describe themselves more positively emerged. Most women also mentioned that they trusted physicians and were concerned about their future fertility and about the possibility of developing cancer. These findings suggest that young women exposed to DES may be using protective denial in their attempt to cope with their DES exposure. Physicians need to be aware of the possible psychologic impact of DES exposure, especially as more data become available regarding decreased fertility in these women and as new attention is focused on young men exposed to DES in utero.

Chlamydial infection and unplanned pregnancy in women with ready access to health care.

OBJECTIVE: To apply urine-based ligase chain reaction for Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonorrhoeae) detection and standard urine-based pregnancy testing for Navy-enlisted women, and to compare the prevalence and epidemiologic correlates of these adverse reproductive outcomes. METHODS: Participants were surveyed and urine was collected for pregnancy testing using standard laboratory methods and detection of C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae infection by ligase chain reaction. Self-administered surveys facilitated collection of demographics, sexual behavior, including contraceptive use, sexual partners, sexually transmitted disease, and pregnancy history. RESULTS: Among 299 of 314 participants, the prevalence of chlamydial infection was 4.7% and of pregnancy was 9.7%, with 48.3% of the pregnancies unplanned. Chlamydia trachomatis infection was univariately associated with having a new sex partner within the last 6 months, more sexual partners, single marital status, condom use, drinking until passing out or vomiting in the past 30 days (alcohol misuse), and current pregnancy. Unplanned pregnancy was univariately associated with young age, single marital status, inconsistent condom use, having a new sex partner within the last 6 months, and more recent sexual partners. Among the pregnant women, four (13.8%) were infected with C. trachomatis. CONCLUSION: The high rates of chlamydial infection and unplanned pregnancy found in this population of employed young women with ready access to health care and health education underscore the challenge of enhancing reproductive health via compliance with effective contraceptive and sexually transmitted disease prevention methods. This is a challenge that remains unmet.

Evaluation of Syva's enzyme immunoassay for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in urogenital specimens.

A newly developed microwell enzyme immunosorbent assay (EIA) system by Syva Company (Palo Alto, CA) can detect Chlamydia trachomatis in < 3 hr. It uses a polyclonal antibody to chlamydial lipopolysaccharide and end points are determined with a spectrophotometer. Three clinical trial sites (University of California Medical Center, San Francisco, CA; University of Washington, Seattle, WA; and Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans, LA), compared this EIA with tissue culture (TC) for identifying Chlamydia in urogenital specimens. Overall prevalence by TC was 10.4% (136 of 1306). When tests were compared with TC (using vials or microtiter plates and a fluorescent antibody stain), we found an EIA sensitivity of 93.4% (127 of 136) and a specificity of 98.1% (1148 of 1170). This EIA has a performance profile that is, at the very least, comparable with other nonculture methods for diagnosing genital tract infections with C. trachomatis.

Adolescents' perceived risk for STDs and HIV infection.

PURPOSE: (1) To determine whether adolescents systematically underestimate their relative risk for STDs and HIV; and (2) to determine to what extent anxiety about STDs and HIV, past condom use, number of lifetime partners and STD/HIV-related beliefs predict perceived relative risk. METHODS: Two hundred and thirty-one sexually experienced, racially diverse, urban high school teenagers (mean age = 15.5 years; 53% male) were surveyed regarding their STD/HIV-related attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. RESULTS: The subjects did not perceive themselves to be at lower risk compared to their perceptions of the risk of other people their age for STDs or HIV. Using hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis, perceptions of lower relative risk for STDs and for HIV were predicted by higher levels of anxiety (p < .001) but not by past condom use, number of lifetime partners or STD/HIV-related beliefs (p > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents' perceptions of risk appear to be related to anxiety about STDs and HIV and their behaviors may be related to peer influences and attitudes toward using condoms.

PIP: In 1991, 881 urban US high school students participated in a survey designed to determine their perceptions of risk for acquiring sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and to test whether results of a previously reported clinic-based study on perceptions of risk are generalizable. Of the students, 278 had engaged in sexual intercourse, and 231 of these returned questionnaires with usable answers to each question. The analysis was based on this latter cohort. The mean age of this group was 15.5 years. 53% were male, 34% Black, 27% Hispanic, 14% Asian, 9% White, and 16% other. The perceived relative risks for STDs and HIV (dependent measures) were submitted to separate analysis using the 5-point Likert scales. Independent measures included demographic variables, STD and HIV anxiety, condom use, number of partners, and STD and HIV beliefs. It was found that 24% never used a condom and 43% always used condoms. The subjects showed no optimistic bias in their perceptions of the relative risk of STDs or HIV (they believed their risks to be the same as those of other people their age). The only variance found was that the White subjects believed themselves at less relative risk than the other subjects. These findings contrast those of the clinic-based study and suggest that perceptions of risk may vary among different cohorts. Higher levels of anxiety were also found to be associated with higher levels of perceived risk whereas other factors were not. A possible limitation of this study was that the group to which the study population was asked to compare itself was not clearly defined. However, this study indicates that sexually active adolescents are well aware of their STD and HIV risks and that their decision to engage in risky behavior may be due to factors other than a heightened sense of invulnerability (such as perception of social norms or alcohol use).

Cervical secretory immunoglobulin A in adolescent girls.

PURPOSE: To determine whether there are differences in levels of cervical secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) between adolescent girls in the secretory and proliferative phases of their menstrual cycle. METHODS: Sexually active adolescent girls (n = 117) at health maintenance organization (HMO) based adolescent medical clinic were recruited into the study. In addition to demographic and clinical data, cervical specimens were collected for sIgA measurement and gonorrhea culture, urine for chlamydia ligase chain reaction, and blood for progesterone levels. Subjects were classified as being in the proliferative phase or secretory phase of the menstrual cycle on the basis of their progesterone levels. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 17.2 years old. There was no difference in the sIgA levels between those in the proliferative phase of their cycle (n = 45; mean sIgA level, 0.0055 mg/mL) and those in the secretory phase (n = 40; mean sIgA level, 0.0032 mg/mL) (p > .10). CONCLUSIONS: The secretory phase of the menstrual cycle does not appear to be associated with higher levels of sIgA in adolescent girls. These results suggest that adolescents with anovulatory cycles, i.e., those who lack a secretory phase, may not be at increased risk for genital tract infections such as chlamydia or gonorrhea.

Pelvic inflammatory disease in adolescent females. Epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and sequelae.

The estimated risk of pelvic inflammatory disease in 15- to 19-year-old females is 1:8. If current trends continue, 50 percent of young women aged 15 years old in 1970 will have experienced at least one episode of PID by the year 2000. This article reviews the current state-of-the-art understanding and management of this disease in the adolescent female.

Implementing a school-based STD/HIV prevention intervention: collaboration between a university medical center and an urban school district.

To effectively implement a school-based STD/HIV prevention intervention program developed by a community-based agency, several issues must be addressed to build a collaborative partnership between the agency and the school district. Steps taken by the Division of Adolescent Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, in achieving partnership with a local urban school district are outlined. The process of recruiting school district administrators, health education liaisons, teachers, parents, and students is emphasized.

Predictors of risk for sexually transmitted diseases in ninth grade urban high school students.

This study examined risk factors associated with acquisition of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including HIV in adolescents, using the AIDS Risk Reduction Model. The study participants were 985 students who were 54% female, ethnically/racially diverse, had a mean age of 14.7 years, and were mostly 9th graders (74%). Logistic regression was used to predict sexual experience. Linear regression was used to predict risky sexual behaviors and condom use within the previous month. The results indicate that demographic factors are associated with being sexually experienced, but few demographics are associated with specific STD-related risk behaviors. STD and AIDS knowledge are not associated with any risk behaviors. Use of alcohol and drugs is associated significantly with being sexually experienced and sexual risk. The results also indicate that peer affiliation, perceptions of peer norms, perceptions of risk, perceptions of self-efficacy, and social support are associated with STD-related risk among sexually experienced youth.

Evaluation of a knowledge- and cognitive-behavioral skills-building intervention to prevent STDs and HIV infection in high school students.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a school-based knowledge- and cognitive-behavioral skills-building STD/HIV prevention intervention. Subjects were 513 ethnically and racially diverse students attending four urban public high schools. The sample was 59% female and had a mean age of 14.4 years. A quasi-experimental design was utilized to evaluate the intervention which consisted of three class sessions. Results of hierarchical regression analyses, controlling for baseline scores and demographic factors, indicate that this intervention was effective at increasing STD knowledge (p < .05), and skills related to prevention of risky sexual (p < .05) and drug use (p < .001) behavior. Although significant changes in risk behaviors were not detected, it is too soon to conclude that school-based education and skills building STD/HIV prevention interventions are ineffective at changing risk behaviors in adolescents. Implications for future study are addressed.

[Chlamydia trachomatis: risk factors in women in the Parisian region. Importance of smoking and cervical ectropion]. / Chlamydia trachomatis: facteurs de risque chez les femmes de la région parisienne. Importance du tabagisme et de l'ectropion cervical.

A study of chlamydial infection and its clinical correlates was undertaken collaboratively among french women attending sexually transmitted disease (STD, prenatal, and teen clinics (n = 148). A complete sexual and gynecologic history and pelvic exam was performed on all women. Endocervical and urethral cultures were obtained for C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae. Reason for visit included suspected STD in 97% of STD, 5% of prenatal and 17% of teen women. N. gonorrhoeae was isolated from STD clinic patients only (17%). C. trachomatis was found in 22% of teen, 17% of STD and 2% of prenatal clinic women. C. trachomatis was significantly associated with smoking, a history of urethral discharge in the male partner, and endocervical ectopy > 50% of total cervical surface.

Psychosocial and behavioral factors associated with risk of sexually transmitted diseases, including human immunodeficiency virus infection, among urban high school students.

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of multiple psychosocial and knowledge-related antecedent factors that may predict sexual and alcohol and drug use behaviors that are associated with the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including human immunodeficiency virus infection. Five hundred forty-four ninth-grade urban high school students were surveyed regarding knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to STDs and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Results of multiple regression analyses indicate that higher levels of STD and AIDS knowledge were associated with lower levels of STD and AIDS anxiety (R2 delta = 0.09; p less than 0.001), fewer negative attitudes toward people with AIDS (R2 delta = 0.09; p less than 0.001), stronger perceptions of self-efficacy (R2 delta = 0.03; p less than 0.01), and stronger peer affiliation (R2 delta = 0.02; p less than 0.05). Negative attitudes toward people with AIDS were inversely related to knowledge (R2 delta = 0.08; p less than 0.001), social support (R2 delta = 0.02; p less than 0.01), and perceived self-efficacy (R2 delta = 0.01; p less than 0.05). Predictors of alcohol and drug use included perceived peer norms (R2 delta = 0.08; p less than 0.001) and strong peer affiliation (R2 delta = 0.05; p less than 0.001). The best predictor of sexual risk behavior was alcohol and drug use (R2 delta = 0.07; p less than 0.001). Lower levels of knowledge (R2 delta = 0.14; p less than 0.01) and perceived peer norms (R2 delta = 0.05; p less than 0.05) predicted nonuse of condoms. Our results indicate that several factors relate to adolescent risk for STDs: the connection between peer influence and adolescent risk behaviors, the link between alcohol and drug use and sexual risk behavior, and the role of knowledge in determining nonuse of condoms.

PIP: This study evaluated the impact of psychosocial and knowledge-related antecedent factors on adolescents' sexual, alcohol-use, and drug-use behaviors associated with the transmission of STDs, including HIV. Additionally, the study examined the role of peer influences in determining STD and HIV risk behaviors, relative to knowledge and other psychosocial factors. Researchers surveyed 544 freshmen (9th graders) at 4 urban high schools, collecting the data through anonymous, self-administered questionnaires. The report provides a tabulation of the students' demographic and other characteristics. In order to analyze the data, the researchers employed a multiple regression model. The results of this analysis indicates that higher levels of STD and AIDS knowledge were associated with lower levels of STD and AIDS anxiety, fewer negative attitudes towards people with AIDS, stronger perceptions of self-efficacy in preventing infection, and stronger peer affiliation. Moreover, negative attitudes toward people with AIDS were inversely related to knowledge, social support, and perceived self-efficacy. The study also found that perceived peer norms and strong peer affiliation served as predictors of alcohol and drug use, while lower levels of knowledge and perceived peer norms served as predictors for nonuse of condoms. The findings of this study reveal several factors related to adolescents' risk of acquiring STDs: the connection between peer influence and adolescent risk behaviors, the relationship between the use of alcohol and drugs and sexual risk behavior, and the role of knowledge in determining the specific risk behavior of nonuse of condoms.

Acute salpingitis in the adolescent female.

Acute salpingitis is an important complication of sexually transmitted disease in young women and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain in all young women. Many organisms, in addition to N. gonorrhoeae, have been associated with this tubal infection giving support to polymicrobial etiology. However, the exact pathophysiologic role of these organisms needs to be clearly defined. The microbiology of acute salpingitis, through direct culture from the site of infection, the fallopian tubes, needs to be clearly elucidated. Early recognition and treatment of acute salpingitis is essential in preventing the major long-term problem, involuntary infertility. Curran has estimated the reproductive outcome for a cohort of adolescent women reaching reproductive age in 1970. By the year 2000, there will have been one episode of salpingitis for every two women; 15% will be hospitalized for salpingitis with over half of these women requiring major gynecologic surgery; 10% will be rendered nonsurgically sterile; and 3% will have experienced an ectopic pregnancy. Adolescent females may be more susceptible to upper genital tract infection than older women due to possible unique biologic characteristics and sexual behaviors. Prospective microbiologically controlled studies of women with salpingitis using laparoscopy need to be developed to evaluate treatment regimens. Until such studies are undertaken, diagnosis, treatment, and fertility in women with acute salpingitis will remain unsatisfactory.

Appointment-keeping behavior in adolescents.

Adolescent appointment-keeping behavior was investigated prospectively in 245 first-scheduled appointments in a general youth clinic within a pediatric ambulatory setting, to determine if older adolescents were more compliant when they made their appointments and less compliant when their appointments were made by their parents. Among single variables (age, sex, and who made the appointment), rates of kept appointments varied considerably. The highest rates of compliance were found in males, under the age of 15, whose parents made the appointment. The lowest rates were found in females, over the age of 15, who made their own appointment. A multiple regression analysis was used to determine which of the variables was most important in predicting compliance. The most important factor was appointment source. Whether parents make the appointment for their sons and daughters (irrespective of age) was the most important predictor of compliance, emphasizing the importance of parental involvement in scheduling appointments.

Ectopic pregnancy in adolescents: a clinical review for pediatricians.

Pediatricians caring for sexually active female adolescents and young adults need to be aware of the history, symptoms, and signs of an ectopic pregnancy. A thorough history and physical examination, including the pelvic examination, as well as specific diagnostic tests such as repeated quantitative hCG measurements, and ultrasonography when indicated, are crucial to proper and early diagnosis of a nonruptured ectopic pregnancy manageable by laparoscopy. The key to early diagnosis is to include ectopic pregnancy in the differential diagnosis in any sexually active female patient who has abnormal vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain. With early diagnosis, close observation, and appropriate management, the outcome is more likely to be favorable, with minimal morbidity and risk of death.

Pelvic inflammatory disease and its sequelae in adolescents.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is the most common serious complication of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Each year over one million women in the United States experience an episode of PID, with approximately 16-20% of cases occurring in teenagers. Acute PID increases a woman's risk for recurrent PID, chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. Recent reports indicating that PID rates are rising and are highest among adolescent females aged 15-19 underscore the need to remain current on the clinical as well as the epidemiologic aspects of PID. We present such an update in this article. Trends in incidence and key risk factors are discussed; besides adolescence itself and STD, other important categories of risk factors include sexual activity, contraceptive method, and previous episode(s) of PID. The polymicrobial nature of PID is discussed along with an analysis of the role of specific organisms, such as Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, anaerobic and aerobic bacteria, and mycoplasmas in PID. Early diagnosis and the institution of appropriate treatment regimens are essential to the prevention of PID's devastating sequelae. Clinicians must maintain a high index of suspicion for the wide range of clinical presentations associated with PID and be prepared to provide effective management, including proper evaluation and prompt treatment of sexual partners.